Bill weight for cash drawers



Oct. 7, 1947. F. L. WEST BILL WEIGHT FOR CASH DRAWERS Filed Dec. 5, 1945 5 Sheets -Shet 1 Oct. 7, 1947. F; L. WEST 2,428,442

BILL WEIGHT FOR CASH DRAWERS Filed Dec. 5, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

dew/L. Msi

Oct. 7, 1947. ELM-15+ 2,428,442

BILL WEIGHT FOR CASH DRAWERS Filed Dec. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 my J INVENTOR.

1 7292 6 M2 MM Patented Oct. 7, 1947 BILL WEIGHT FOR CASH DRAWERS Fletcher L. West, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to The McCaskey Register Company, Alliance, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 5, 1945, Serial No. 632,872

13 Claims.

The invention relates to bill weights for the bill or paper money compartments of cash drawers, and more particularly to an automatically operated bill weight.

Under present practice the cash drawers of cash registers and the like are provided with bill compartments of suitable dimensions to accommodate paper money in flat condition, and are equipped with hingedl mounted bill weights which must be manually operated to place bills in, or remove them from, a compartment, thus requiring continual manipulation of the hingedly mounted bill weights whenever transactions are made involving paper money or checks.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatically operated bill weight for each bill compartment so as to obviate the necessity of a manual operation of the bill weights by the operator.

Another object is to provide a bill weight which will be automatically lowered into frictional contact with bills in each bill compartment of a cash drawer when the drawer is closed and which will be automatically raised, when th drawer is opened, so as to permit bills to be removed from or placed in the bill compartments when the cash drawer is in open position. v

A further object is to provide a bill weight in the form of a spring loaded lever arm fulcrumed at one side of a bill compartment and arranged to be operated by a cam controlled operating lever for raising and lowering the lever arms as the cash drawer is opened and closed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bill weight of the character referred to in which the lever arms are received in sockets in the side walls of the bill compartments when they are raised to inoperative position, so that the bill compartments will be entirely unobstructed to permit bills to be placed in or removed therefrom.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved bill weights in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a to plan View of a cash drawer equipped with the automatically operated bill weight to which the invention pertains, showing th drawer in nearl open position with the bill weights in lowered position;

Fig. 2 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the drawer in fully opened position and the bill weights in the raised or inoperative position;

Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line 33, Fig. 2, showing the cam control operating means for automatically operating the bill weights in the position said parts assume when the bill weights are in the raised or inoperative position;

Fig. 4 a similar view taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1, showing the same parts in the position they assume when the bill weights are in the lowered or operated position;

Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5--5, Fig. 2, showing the bill weights in the raised position, and;

Fig. 6 a similar view taken on the line 6-6, Fig, 1, showing the bill weights in the lower or operated position.

Referring more specifically to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a cash drawer is indicated generally at H] which may be formed of plastic or other suitable material and is slidably mounted in any conventional manner within the usual frame II and provided with a plurality of change compartments l2 as in usual and Well known manner for receiving coins of various denominations.

Bill compartments are indicated at l3 for receiving bills or paper money of various denominations or checks. These bill compartments may be of conventional size and shape so as to accommodate paper money in flat condition although they are preferably of the size and shape shown in the drawings so that bills or checks are received therein in substantially U-shape position, in order to conserve space and permit all of the compartments to be housed in a cash drawer of smaller dimensions than in usual practice.

Instead of providing the usual manually operated bill weights for retaining the paper money and checks in the bill compartments, the present invention contemplates the provision of automatically operated, spring loaded lever arms which are held in contact with the bills in the bill compartments while the cash drawer is in closed position and are automatically raised out of contact with the bills as the cash drawer is moved to fully opened position.

In the form of the invention illustrated four bill compartments l3 are shown, located in pairs divided by a substantially thick partition wall 14 within which the lever arms l5, forming the bill weights, are mounted as will be later described in detail.

For this purpose the partition wall I4 is hollow, having the chamber l6 formed therein and communicating on opposite sides with the re- 3 cesses I'I through which the lever arms I5 are projected and into which they are received as they are operated to lowered and raised positions.

the bifurcated, lower ends 25 of the. lever arms I5 are pivotally connected to said ears, as indi cated at 2B.

A pin or stud 21 is fixed to the bifurcated end 25 of each lever arm, at a point intermediate the pivot point 23 and the free end of the lever arm, and opposite ends of a coil spring '28 are connected to the pins 2-! of each opposed pair of lever arms l5, so as to urge said pair of lever arms toward each other when the spring 28 passes over the pivotal centers 26, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

For the purpose of urging the lever arms I5 outward and downward into contact with the bottoms of the bill compartments I3, as shown in Fig. 6, springs 29 are connected to the pins 21 and to a bracket 30 connected to the channel member l8 as bybolts 3I.

The lever arms I5 are notched on their inner sides, as indicated at 32, to accommodate the cross head '22 when the lever arms are in the raised position, as shown in Fig. 5. A roller cated outer or free end of each lever arm I5, for contact with the bottom of the bill compartment I3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. V

The channel member I8 has a tubular guide 33, 35 may be jou'rnalled, as at 36 in the bifur- I 36 fixed at its central portion and a rod 31,

fixed at its upper end to the cross head 22, as indicated at 38, is slidably located through said tubular guide, the lower end of' said rod .ter minating in the reduced neck 39 having an en larged' head or shoulder 40 thereon.

An. operating lever 4| is fulcrummed intermediate. its ends, as'at 42, upon the channel member I8, and provided at its outer end with an open ended slot 43 which receives the reduced neck 39 of the rod 31, as best shown in 'Figs. '3 and 4.

The inner end of the operating lever has the spaced pair of upper and lower rollers or studs 44 and 55 respectively, mounted thereon for enrollers 44 and 45, upon the operating lever Ill, 7

will first engage on opposite sides of the lower end 51 of the cam track as the drawer reaches the nearly ,open position, as shown in Fig. 4, and

further outwardmovement of the drawer will 1 ride the rollers i l and'45 up upon the inclined portion 56 of the cam track so that'when the drawer reaches the fully open position shown in,

Fig. 3, the rollers 44 and 45 will come to rest upon the higher, outer end portion 52 of the cam track.

This will result in swinging the operating lever 41 from the substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 4 to the angular position shown in Fig. 3, and through the slotted end 43 of said operating lever and head or shoulder 40 on the rod 31, the cross head 22 will be moved from the raised position of Figs. 4 and 6 to the lowered position of Figs. 3 and 5.

As the cross head 22 is thus moved from the raised to the lowered position the pivotal centers 725 of the lever arm bill weights I5 will be moved from, a pointabovegthe spring 28, as shown in Figs/l and 6 to a point below said spring as shown in Figs. '3 and 5, permittingthe spring 28 to pull said lever arms from the outwardly angled positio'nof Figs. 4 and 6 to the raised or..vertical position within the recesses II, asshown in Figs; 3ar'1d-5.

In the operation of the device, ass'umingthat the cash drawer is inthe closed position, the

lever arm bill weights will be in the angular position shown in Figs. 1, 4 andf6,i the free ends thereof being held in contact with anyrbills or checks in the bill compartments I3, so as to prevent accidental displacement. of thewbills. or checks as in usual practice.

When the cash'draw'er is opened the lever arms I5 will remain in this position untilthe drawer reaches the nearly open position as in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. Further outward movement of the cash drawer will cause the rollers 44 and 45, upon the operating lever'cl, to engage'the'cam track 56, and to ride upward upon the inclined portion 59 thereof, and onto the higher or outer end portion 52 swinging the operating leverto the angular position shown in Fig. 3, lowerin the cross head 22 and raising the levera'rmsIB as above described. 1 a

In this position the bill weights are raised out of the billcompartments I350 that bills or checks may be removed therefrom or placed therein without any obstructionsin the 'bill compartments to interfere withithe same. i i I After the transaction has been-completed the cash drawer is closed and immediately upon starting, the closing movement the rollers 44 and 45 upon the operating lever M will ride down the inclined portion 5Il'ofythe cam track and' onto the lower end EI thereof moving theoperating lever ll back to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4, raising the cross -headf22 and moving.

the pivot points 25, of the lever arms'l5- above the spring 28, permitting said spring and-the springs 23 to throwthe'lever arm bill weights outward to the position bestshown in Fig. 6, -th'e rollers 33 at the ends thereof being held inn-1e tional engagement with any paper -money ror checks in the bill "compartments I3, the parts remaining in, this position as the drawer is moved to the fully closed position and-until thei'dr'awer is again'opened in the manner-above described.

From the above 'it-will be obvious i thatan automatically operated billweight is provided which'w-ill frictionally-engage paper moneymor checks in the bill compartments of the cash drawer at all times exceptin'gwhen the drawer reaches the fully open position, at.whichitime the'bill weights will be automatically. raised .out-ofengagement with the paper money or. checks, in, the

'bill compartments .and" receivedtin the recesses in the, partition wall between'adjacentbill compartments, permitting easy access to the, bill compartments to place money or checks therein or remove it therefrom.

It will also be obvious that the bill weight lever arms are spring loaded in such manner as to checks will be firmly clamped by the lever arms.

I claim: V .1. Incombination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted,

a bill compartment in the cash drawer, a lever arm bill weight mounted at one side of the bill compartment, and means operated by the closing and opening of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weight into contact with the bottom of the bill compartment and to vertical position at one side thereof respectively.

2. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a bill compartment in the cash drawer, a lever arm bill weight mounted at one side of the bill compartment, and cam controlled means operated by the closing and opening of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weight into contact with the bottom of the bill compartment and to vertical position at one side thereof respectively.

3. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a bill compartment in the cash drawer having a vertical recess in one side wall thereof, a lever arm bill weight mounted in said recess, and means operated by the opening and closing movement of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weight into said recess and into contact with the bottom of the bill compartment respectively.

4. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a bill compartment in the cash drawer having a vertical recess in one side wall thereof, a lever arm bill weight mounted in said recess, and cam controlled means operated by the opening and closing movement of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weight into said recess and into contact with the bottom of the bill compartment respectively.

5. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a pair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, a partition wall separating said bill compartments, vertical recesses in opposite sides of the partition wall, a pair of lever arm bill weights mounted in said recesses, and means operated by the opening and closing movement of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weights into said recesses and into contact with the bottom of the bill compartments respectively.

6. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a pair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, a partition wall separating said bill compartments, vertical recesses in opposite sides of the partition wall, a pair of lever arm bill weights mounted in said recesses, and cam controlled means operated by the opening and closing movement of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weights into said recesses and into contact with the bottom of the bill compartments respectively.

7. In combination with a cash drawer and a 'frame in which the drawer'is slidably mounted,

a ,bill compartment in the cash drawer, a lever arm bill weight mounted at one side of the bill compartment, and means including a cam controlled operating lever operated by the closing and opening of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weight into contact with the bottom of the bill compartment and to vertical position at one side thereof respectively.

8. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a bill compartment in the cash drawer having a vertical recess in one side wall thereof, a lever arm bill weight mounted in said recess, and

means including a cam controlled operating lever operated by the opening and closing movement of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weight into said recess and into contact with the bottom of the bill compartment respectively.

-9. In combination with a cash drawer and a. frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a pair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, a partition wall separating said bill compartments, vertical recesses in opposite sides of the partition wall, a pair of lever arm bill weights mounted in said recesses, and means including a cam controlled operating lever operated by the opening and closing movement of the cash drawer for swinging said lever arm bill weights into said recesses and into contact with the bottom of the bill compartments respectively.

10. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a pair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, a hollow partition wall separating said bill compartments, a horizontal cross head vertically movably mounted within said partition wall, a pair of lever arm bill weights pivotally mounted upon said cross arm, spring means for alternately swinging said lever arm bill weights into contact with the bottoms of the bill compartments and into vertical position in said partition as the cross head is raised and lowered, and means operated by the closing and opening movement of the cash drawer for raising and lowering said cross head.

11. In combination with a cash drawer and a frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted, a pair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, a hollow partition wall separating said bill compartments, a horizontal cross head vertically movably mounted within said partition wall, a pair of lever arm bill weights pivotally mounted upon said cross arm, spring means for alternately swinging said lever arm bill weights into contact with the bottoms of the bill compartments and into vertical position in said partition as the cross head is raised and lowered, and cam controlled means operated by the closing and opening movement of the cash drawer for raising and lowering said cross head.

12. In combination with a cash drawer anda frame in which the drawer is slidably mounted,

a pair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, a

hollow partition wall separating said bill compartments, a horizontal cross head vertically movably mounted within said partition wall, a pair of lever arm bill weights pivotally mounted upon said cross arm, spring means for alternately swinging said lever arm bill weights into contact with the bottoms of the bill compartments and into vertical position in said partition as the cross head is raised and lowered, and an operating lever operated by the closing and open- 7 ingmovement of the cash drawer for raising and loweringsaid cross head. a

'13. ;In oombin-ation with a cash drawer and a v framein which thedraweris slidably mounted, apair of bill compartments in the cash drawer, ahhollow partition Wall separatingsaidbill compartmentsr, a horizontal cross, headvertically movablymounted withi l said partition wail a pair of lever arm bill weights pivotally mounted upon said cross arm' spripg means for alternately 10 swinging said lever; arm bill weights into contact witl'i-the bottoms ;of the bill eompartments and into e a pos qnfl n. s i ar it o s h crossheadis raisedgand 1owered,,a cam track 7 m he fr me. vand. an; o rvw e l v lever mounte 1 5 FLETCHER L. WEST;

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the file} of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name 7 Date 833,049 Hamish Dot. 9, 1906 986,075 Menighan Mar. '7, 1911 ONeal -7 Dec. 20,1938 

